New Dining Options Pop Up West of the River by Celeste McCall

east washington life

New Dining Options Pop Up West of the River

by Celeste McCall

In spite of the ongoing Covid pandemic, dragging into its third calendar year, new restaurants have continued to arrive on and around Capitol Hill, The Wharf, H Street NE and the Capitol Riverfront. As hours and other details are subject to change, we are not including them here; please check their websites. Most restaurants offer carryout and delivery as well as indoor dining. (Check current Covid regulations.).

Bon appetit! And don’t forget to tip generously!

CAPITOL HILL

Forty layers of lasagna? You’ll find them at L’Ardente, 200 Mass. Ave. NW. Plated sideways, David Deschaies’ offbeat creation is composed of short ribs, tomato sauce and Sottocenere cheese from northern Italy. Located in the Capitol Crossing development, L’Ardente’s stunning décor is appointed with glittering chandeliers, a colorful mural, a spacious dining room and two bar areas. You’ll also find whole branzino, bistecca ala Fiorentina (marinated steak), calamari risotto, saffron-spiked arancini (fried, mozzarellafilled rice balls), and charcoal-fired pizza.

Pastry chef Manabu Inoue’s tiramisu is a sphere of Valrhona chocolate enveloping espresso-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone, then flambéed tableside. For reservations (highly recommended!) visit www.lardente.com.

At 515 Eighth St. SE, is an Iberian gem: Bodegon Spanish Tapas, a Barracks Row spinoff of the Georgetown original. The menu showcases Spanish dishes like Andalusian gazpacho, fried calamari, grilled chorizo, cured meats, artisan cheeses, and paella (traditional seafood and vegetarian). Plus sangria, Spanish wines and a full bar. The décor is a vision of Madrid with white brick walls, ceramic plates, paintings and bullfighter motifs. www.bodegondc.com.

Tucked away in the Roost complex is Caruso’s Grocery, 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. The appealing décor conjures visions of old-fashioned Manhattan restaurants like Delmonico’s. Chef/partner Matt Adler’s menu showcases traditional Italian dishes: fried calamari, linguine and clams, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmesan. Gluten free options are available. For reservations (highly recommended) visit www.carusosgrocery.com. Direct from Rome is La Casina de Pinseria Romana, 327 Seventh St. SE, showcasing pinsas. “Just don’t call them pizzas.” Co-owner Fabrizio Costantini explains: “Roman pinsa is a modern take on an ancient Roman dough. It has a mixture of flours with low gluten content and high moisture but no yeast. It is left to rest for 36 to 48 hours in the refrigerator. It will ripen naturally, taking on a crunchy appearance when cooked, but soft and light inside.” La Casina also serves fried risotto balls, stuffed olives, deep-fried “pinsa bites.” For now, bring your own vino. For updates visit www.lacasinadc.com. On Barracks Row is Crazy Aunt Helen’s, 713 Eighth St. SE, operated by Mary Quillen Helms (whose family has owned Mr. Henry’s for a half century) and veteran restaurateur Shane Mayson. The menu offers American comfort food like brisket, roasted chicken, crispy catfish, burgers and banana bread pudding. Designing the colorful interior of funky tables, chairs and mismatched tableware is Miss Pixie Windsor of Miss Pixie’s (Logan Circle). www.crazyaunthelens.com. Yet more pizza is on the way. Della Barba Pizza, 1382 East Capitol (where Al’s Pizza reigned for decades) is due to open soon. Part of a national chain, this future Della Barba previously operated out of Ivy City’s Union Kitchen. For updates visit www.dellabarbapizza.com.

You’ll find beef and lots of it at Harvest Tide Steakhouse, 212 Seventh St. SE. This handsome steak palace is a spinoff of a Delaware-based group with other restaurants on the Eastern Shore. A Harvest Tide specialty is a 49-ounce Tomahawk ribeye, but you can also find smaller

At gluten free bakery Sweet Crimes, a creatively masked employee displays a tray of yummy cupcakes. At L’Ardente, chef David Deschaies’s lasagna reportedly has 40 layers (we lost count).

Partners Mary Quillian Helms & Shane Mayson opened Crazy Aunt Helen's (713 Eighth St SE) in July of 2021. Photo: E. O’Gorek

steaks, plus fishy offerings including a build-your-own seafood tower, bouillabaisse, East Coast halibut, plus vegetarian dishes and even pizza. www.harvesttidecapitolhill.com.

Kaiju Ramen, 525 Eighth St. SE, slid into the Barracks Row space formerly Porron by Anxo. Kaiju’s dark décor is dramatic; neon lighting snakes along the walls and ceiling. Kaiju is Japanese for “monster” and Godzilla images lurk everywhere, including the restrooms. On the eclectic menu, the tako (octopus) corn dog is a trio of battered octopus globes threaded on a skewer. More conventional choices are edamame, chashu fried rice with pork.

Black miso cheese ramen is replete with noodles, corn, black sesame and squid ink. The full bar includes Japanese beer and sake –including sparkling sake. www. kaijuramen.us.

Ledo Pizza is opening its umpteenth offshoot at 415 Eighth St. SE. Famous for its rectangular pies with flakey crusts, our future Barracks Row Ledo’s is part of a restaurant chain founded years ago in College Park, Maryland and popular with University of Maryland students. For updates visit www.Ledopizza.com

Coming soon is Newland, 327 Seventh St. SE (former site of Montmartre), offering “New American” cuisine. The menu will tap Mid-Atlantic produce, seafoods and other ingredients, focusing on pastas, rice, crabby dishes and grilled beef. Heading the kitchen is Maryland native Andrew Markert, formerly with nearby Beuchert’s Saloon. For updates visit www.newlanddc.com.

Just east of Lincoln Park, Pacci’s Trattoria is due to open at 106 13th St. SE where the Lincoln Park Wine Bar used to be. The menu will offer pasta dishes, calzones, Neapolitan style pizzas, chicken parmesan and the classic Caprese salad with tomatoes and mozzarella, plus sandwiches, beer, wine and cocktails. For updates visit www.paccis.com.

Sweet Crimes, a gluten free bakery, has opened at 1238 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, next to the Capitol Hill Animal Clinic. Besides gluten free “criminally delicious” breads, biscuits, cakes, cupcakes, pies, cookies and macaroons, the shop dispenses sandwiches, muffins, quiches and more. Plus coffee and tea drinks. www.sweetcrimes.com.

CAPITOL RIVERFRONT (NAVY YARD)

Situated across from Nationals Park is Gatsby, 1201 Half St. SE. This handsome, art deco appointed restaurant offers updated diner classics like In-N-Out burgers (inspired by a 74-year-old California-based fast food chain), vegan Caesar salads, Thai-style skirt steak, chicken pot pie, “Blue Plate Specials,” cakes, pies and “retro” cocktails. www.visitgatsbyrestaurant.com.

Jackie, 79 Potomac Ave. SE, named for the late First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis, serves creative “New American” cuisine including roasted pumpkin burrata, “duck” PB&J, grilled octopus with blackeyed peas, house-made Spam-fried rice, tamarind fried chicken, charred cabbage with fennel puree and cashews. www.jackiedc.com.

La Famosa, 1300 Fourth St. SE, turns out the best Puerto Rican fare we’ve tasted north of Miami. Heading the menu: bolitas (deep-fried globes filled with cheese), pastelillos (similar to empanadas, with various fillings), Latino-inspired sandwiches (try the Creole-style cod), whole crispy snapper, “traditional” flan. www.eatlafamosa.com.

Pink Taco, the first Washington outpost of a Los Angeles-based national chain, is coming to 100 M St. SE. Popular with A-listers like Snoop Dogg and Jennifer Aniston, Pink Taco’s festive menu encompasses enchiladas, burritos, tacos and an impressive lineup of margaritas including the Cadillac that comes with a mini bottle of Grand Marnier. For updates visit www.pinktaco.com.

Solace Brewing Company has opened at 71 Potomac Ave. SE, near the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge. The enterprise pours IPAs, kettle sours and other potables. Georgetown’s Stachowski Market supplies half smokes, brats, burgers and fried chicken sandwiches. Visit www.solacebrewing.com.

DISTRICT WHARF

An October opening is projected for District Wharf’s Phase 2. The expansion will include more than a dozen new restaurants plus the luxury Pendry Hotel. New York’s famed Philippe Chow will unveil a waterfront spinoff. Also coming are Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, burger eatery

Lucky Buns, Kilwins Chocolate &

Ice Cream and Scissors & Scotch, which has an outlet near Nationals Park. There, guys can sip a drink while the hairdresser works his magic. In the Maine Avenue Fish Market, expect Jessie Taylor Seafood City to spread into the slot vacated last year by Captain White. For updates visit www.phase2.wharfdc.com.

Nestled in the Canopy by Hilton lobby is Canopy Central Bar & Café, 975 Seventh St. SW. Starting with breakfast, you’ll find lox and bagels, “adult lunchables” with meat, cheese, crackers and a “treat,” onion rings, chicken tenders, wings, “hand helds” (sandwiches), salads and pizza. www. canopycentralcafeandbar.com

H Bar at Hyatt House, 725 Wharf St. SW, is a cozy venue dispensing breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. You’ll find avocado toast, smoked salmon bagels, lunchtime subs, pizzas, salads and “Dinner Bombers” including charcuterie boards, short ribs, creamy pesto pasta. www.hyatt.com. ilili, 100 District Square SW, is an upscale Lebanese restaurant sprawled in the former Requin space. The menu dispenses mezze (small plates) including baba ghannouj (spicy eggplant dip), hummus with assorted toppings, falafel, mekanek (grilled lamb sausage), Brussels sprouts. Among entrée-sized plates are salmon (or halibut) ala plancha, stuffed grape leaves, whole organic chicken. www.ililirestaurants.com.

H STREET NE (ATLAS DISTRICT)

Daru, 1451 Maryland Ave. NE (just off H), is an Indian restaurant with international flair. Created by Dante Datta and chef/co-owner Suresh Sundas, the kitchen turns out innovative Indian dishes: Daal (spicy lentils) on burrata; paneer cheese with pesto tikka; naan dusted with za’atar; dhungar bhartha (smoked eggplant with ginger, cilantro and chilis); tandoori chicken, Indian breads. Besides cocktails there’s wine and beers including Taj Mahal lager from India and India pale ale from Michigan. www.darudc.com. Coming soon, Hakuna Matata Kitchen & Bar, 1128 H St. NE (the former Kusbah space). Serving Eastern African food, the future restaurant is named after the lively “Lion King” number “Hakuna Matata,” Swahili for “No Worries.” Expect goat kanga, chicken skewers, samosas, spicy wings, cassava fries. No website yet. Also in the works: Taqueria Al Lade II, 809 12th St. NE (just off H), former site of fried fish institution Horace and Dickie’s. Ecuadorian born Taqueria Chef Rolando Frias—who lived in Mexico as a student—also operates a Taqueria in Adams Morgan. His Atlas District spinoff will feature tacos, quesadillas, huarache (masa dough with mashed beans) with choice of protein. Tortillas will be hand made. The tiny newcomer will Just off H Street NE, Daru creates fa- have just eight seats, plus a patio. Vismiliar Indian dishes with international it www.taqueriaallade.com. u flair, including tandoori chicken.